VECAN Spring Summit 2023

Please join us June 3rd to reconnect, strategize and help co-create opportunities to do our part to advance just and bold climate action! We are excited to reconvene in-person once again, especially at this moment of tremendous urgency when it comes to climate and tremendous opportunity when it comes to unprecedented federal funding.

After light breakfast fare and informal networking, we are eager to launch the day with remarks from climate champion Bill McKibben! Bill’s global leadership on climate action has been unparalleled. And, with deep roots in Vermont, Bill will offer his unique insight on where things stand when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, the opportunity and obligation to make swift progress and the powerful role of community leaders like you to help make change. We hope you’re as excited as we are that he’ll be joining us – and we hope to see you there.

After Bill’s framing remarks, we will then transition to a panel focused on funding an equitable clean energy transition. There are unprecedented federal funds available to do this work, and we are grateful to tap into a panel of experts – Bonnie Waninger of the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, Jen Myers of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Callie Fishburn of the Bennington County Regional Commission – to outline those opportunities for us all.

Then, we’ll dive into a series of small group discussions on a wide range of topics we’ve heard are of interest to many of you to cross-pollinate ideas amongst community energy leaders and resource providers on priority clean energy and climate solutions. While enjoying a tasty lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win an E-Bike and an energy-efficient window air conditioning unit – FREE!

These are challenging times with many challenging issues to address. We will need all of us! We anticipate this day will offer a great mix of timely information, inspiration, and essential networking and relationship-building opportunities.

Please know too, if travel or travel costs are a challenge, we have some limited funds to support transportation costs – and, we are hoping to help facilitate carpool options as well. Please let us know what you might need to make this event possible for you.

Please register today if you plan to attend! Space is limited but we haven’t yet maxed it out. And, we want as many people as possible to benefit from the expert resource providers, the collaboration opportunities and the opportunity to potentially head home with the promise of a new E-bike, efficient air conditioning unit, handfuls of Lake Champlain chocolate and more! We hope to see you there… and thanks for spreading the word.

This event will be entirely free of charge and open to all, thanks to Middlebury College and our generous sponsors.

The event will take place at Middlebury College – McCullough Student Center, Wilson Hall

14 Old Chapel Rd Middlebury, VT 05753

Agenda:

8:30 am: Registration, Light Breakfast Fare and Informal Networking

9:00 am: Opening Remarks: Bill McKibben

Launch the day with opening remarks from climate champion Bill McKibben! Bill’s global leadership on climate action has been unparalleled. And, with deep roots in Vermont, Bill will offer his unique insight on where things stand when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, the opportunity and obligation to make swift progress and the powerful role of community leaders like you to help make change.

9:45 am: Panel: Funding an Equitable Transition

Join us for an in-depth overview of opportunities available through the Inflation Reduction Act, Municipal Energy Resilience Program, and other incentive programs increasingly available to households, businesses, and communities. We are grateful to tap into a panel of experts – Bonnie Waninger of the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, Jen Myers of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Callie Fishburn of the Bennington County Regional Commission – to outline those opportunities for us all.

11:15 am: World Cafe – Small Group Topic Deep Dives

Dive into a series of small group discussions on a wide range of topics we’ve heard are of interest to many of you to cross-pollinate ideas amongst community energy leaders and resource providers on priority clean energy and climate solutions. Share ideas, brainstorm, and connect with experts and fellow community leaders!

12:30 Raffle: E-Bike & Energy-Efficient Window Air Conditioning Unit

Enter a FREE raffle to win an e-bike and an energy-efficient window air conditioning unit!

12:35 pm: Enjoy Lunch on Us!

Continue the conversation on timely topics and priorities of interest to you over a yummy lunch with a variety of dietary options available.

1:30 pm: Informal Networking

Where Should I Park?

Most participants will be able to park in the Service Building Parking Lot and along Old Chapel Road. The next best spot would be over the Mahaney Arts Center – folks will need to use the crosswalk to cross Route 30 and then onto McCullough.

To get to the Service Building Parking Lot, the best way to enter is off Route 30 (aka South Main Street).

Old Chapel Road has parking spaces lining the road and facing McCullough Student Center which can be accessed by Route 30 or Route 125 (aka College Way).

The Mahaney Arts Center is also accessed from Route 30/South Main Street, and folks will want to take a turn onto Porter Field Road. That will loop around to the large parking lot.